Rate My Professor Barbara Wierzbicki

Dr. Barbara Wierzbicki is an Associate Professor of Education and Elementary Education Program Coordinator at Fairmont State University in the College of Education, Health and Human Performance. Holding an Ed.D. and M.A. from West Virginia University, an M.B.A. from Frostburg State University, and a B.A. from McDaniel College, she brings a robust academic foundation to her role. Wierzbicki joined Fairmont State University in 2018 as an Assistant Professor of Education and advanced to Associate Professor with tenure in 2024, recognizing her contributions to the institution. Before entering higher education, she gained 13 years of hands-on experience teaching K-5 grades in public schools, which informs her practical approach to teacher preparation.

In her capacity as Program Coordinator, Wierzbicki oversees the Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education program, where she teaches elementary education methods courses and supervises clinical experiences for teacher candidates. She has played a key role in the program's success, as evidenced by Fairmont State University's ranking among top teacher preparation programs for early reading instruction in 2020. Commenting on the curriculum, she stated that the progression of courses emphasizes understanding the reading process, mastering a variety of content area reading strategies, and practicing the pedagogy required to teach reading and language arts skills effectively to both elementary and secondary candidates. Additionally, Wierzbicki chairs the Faculty Senate's Academic Appeals Committee and serves on the Educator Preparation Provider Advisory Committee, contributing to institutional governance and program improvements. She has presented her work at professional conferences, such as the West Virginia English Language Arts conference in 2019, collaborating with colleagues and students on elementary education topics. Her dedication to fostering skilled educators underscores her impact in the Education field at Fairmont State University.